A Field Guide to Whisky: An Expert Compendium to Take Your Passion and Knowledge to the Next Level is a soon to be released 320-page hardcover book chocked full of colour photos, maps and all sorts of spirited knowledge for your enhanced drinking pleasure. Continue reading →

Did you ever wonder where your preferred tipple came from? How it was produced? Or even the history behind it? The world of whiskey (and whisky) is one of heritage and craft, of idyllic natural water sources in scenic settings, of good times and lifelong memories. Continue reading →

Good stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip, savour and more – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Continue reading →

Happy New Year! I hope your Hogmanay was a merry one. Now that 2015 has come to an end and 2016 has commenced, it’s time to get ready for one of the best festivities on the British calendar: Burns Night. And what better way to celebrate the life and works of Scottish poet Robert Burns than with a toast of single malt Scotch whisky? I’m got a bottle of R&B Distillers’ Raasay While We Wait put aside for one lucky reader that’s sure to be the hit of any Burns Supper. Continue reading →

Good stuff and lots of it! Here’s the (long overdue) lowdown on some fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Continue reading →

Japanese fine dining restaurant, Kouzu, opened with a hush of a soft launch (although apparently the Prince of Monaco had already caught wind and paid a visit) last week. Via an invitation extended by the restaurant, Kemey and I dropped by Saturday for what turned out to be a most elegant meal. Continue reading →

Back in May, single malt whisky makers Aberlour launched the world’s first outdoor whisky art gallery. A few weeks ago, I got the chance to check the exhibition when I paid a visit to the distillery. Set on an idyllic stretch of babbling brook winding its way to Aberlour’s historic distillery, the exhibition aims to capture “the individual elements that together result in one of Scotland’s most famous exports.” And I reckon it certainly succeeds in doing so. Continue reading →

Even when setting aside the distillery tour, cooperage visit, and the delectable chance to taste the Aberlour range of single malts in the very environment where they’re made, my Speyside time was still such a blast. The area is absolutely gorgeous, all the food I had was delish, and the hours spent outside communing with nature were as invigorating as they were relaxing. I would have loved to have been able to extend my trip at least a few more days as there was just so much great stuff to see and do. Indeed, I would be so very keen to head back that way again to get to continue discovering this lovely part of Scotland. Continue reading →

To be honest, I’d never had a sip of Aberlour before my visit to its distillery. Always reckoning myself more an islands whisky kinda guy, I’m slightly embarrassed to say that I simply had not even given Speyside whisky a fair shake. I now realise the error of my ways and that I have been missing out all these years as a whisky drinker. Continue reading →

As important as the few raw ingredients that go into whisky is the cask in which the spirit is aged. Indeed it’s the interplay between the spirit and the cask wood that gives any whisky its flavour. And coming by the right cask is no mean feat as I found out when I got a look see inside the Speyside Cooperage near Aberlour Distillery. Continue reading →

Regardless of whether you actually like the taste of whisky, distilleries are fine places to visit if only for the scenery surrounding them. And to this point, age old Aberlour Distillery is no exception. Continue reading →

One last lunch, one last chance to take in all the yummy hospitality I’d come to expect while travelling through Portugal – a stop in the seaside town of Comporta en route to the airport in Lisbon yielded one of the best meals I had during my stay in the country. With an emphasis on serving traditional dishes from Alentejo using fresh, local, sustainably sourced, and mostly organic ingredients – the family owned O Zé Restaurante Lounge pleased my palate and ensured I headed back London satisfied to be sure yet already longing to return for more festive feasting. Continue reading →

Last week started off with a bit man pampering for me with a highly recommendable visit to Pankhurst barbershop in the Carnaby area of Soho. I went in for a beard trim and enjoyed every aspect of my upscale yet down to earth experience. Continue reading →

Waaaaaay back at the end of May I travelled up to the remote island of Jura to check out its annual Whisky Festival. This year’s event was even more worthy of red letters on the Jura calendar than usual, as the occasion marked 50th anniversary of the island’s distillery. Continue reading →

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of being among the very first members of the public to taste a new chocolate and whiskey liqueur called Chocolat Luxe. There’s an embargo on for a few weeks preventing me from saying which brand is behind this new velvety drink. But I can tell you this: Chocolat Luxe is the world’s first fusion of Belgian chocolate, Irish whiskey and cream. It’s the result of three years of development and combines cream, Madagascan vanilla, tripled distilled whiskey and more than 30g of real Belgian chocolate in each bottle. Continue reading →

Beyond the fabulous settings and fantastic food, two of the Hakkasan Group’s best Asian fine dining restaurants in London will run a new series of cocktail and spirit masterclasses this summer. Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.

The Feis Ile is the Scottish island of Islay’s annual festival of “Malt and Music.” Held every year during the last week of May with an variety of activities and events across Islay as well as on the neighbouring island Jura, the Feis Ile is considered to be one of the most important events on any true whisky lover’s calendar. Continue reading →

Located in the heart of the Royal Mile, Dubh Prais offers a hearty helping of welcoming Scottish character and, despite its tourist laden locale, has an authentically homey and off-the-beaten track feel to it. Read my complete post at the … Continue reading →

Planning any international flights soon? It might be wise to save some time to do a bit of airport shopping before hopping your plane or exiting the terminal. Why? Because it’s yet again time for World Duty Free and its specialist shop, World … Continue reading →

… a thorough and well-rounded introduction to Scotland’s most famous export along with plenty of tips on making the most of any wee dram. The Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh CheapOair, 3 April 2012

Foraging, Mark Hix and Whisky Locally Sourced, November 15, 2011 The idea behind our expedition was to get us city slickers close ‘to the wild seas of Skye, where Talisker is made, without leaving our Southern shores’. And it was … Continue reading →

Remember my last “Good Stuff” post? That was published just over a month ago. Lots more stuff’s been happening since then. And the wonderful thing is that most that stuff’s been good stuff. So, as with that last post back … Continue reading →